Taj Mahal’s doors remains locked; Allahabad court denies petition

The ongoing Taj Mahal’s case in Allahabad High Court to set a fact finding inquiry into the history of the Taj Mahal has been rejected by the court. The petition also included the opening of its 22 locked rooms, but the Allahabad High Court rejected it too.

However, the court said that the petition to set up a fact finding committee to find out the real truth of Taj Mahal is a non-justiciable issue. Consequently, for the prayer regarding opening up of the rooms. It said that the historical research should have a proper methodology. And this should be left to the historians of the monument.

The prayers cannot be decided by the court. The petitioners brought on High Court and Supreme Court judgements about the freedom of religion. However, the court said that it does not agree with the case of the petitioners. The petitioners asked for a fact finding committee to look into this case before the court. However, the court denied it by saying that it does not fall under their rights and were not convinced on the evidences as the Taj Mahal was claimed to be a Lord Shiva’s temple in the past.

Taj Mahal is considered as a monument which protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Consequently, the petition included certain provisions which set aside various acts. It included the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1951. Also the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958, under which the Taj Mahal was declared as historical monument.